Trump and White House Deny Reports of Ceasefire Extension Deadline with Iran

Gate News message, April 23 — Trump denied reports claiming he extended the ceasefire period with Iran by 3 to 5 days, calling the accounts false during a Fox News interview on April 23. He stated there is no timeline for ending the conflict and expressed no urgency, countering claims that he wanted to resolve the matter quickly for midterm election purposes. Trump emphasized the administration seeks a good deal for Americans and noted that Iran seized vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, though he clarified they are not U.S. ships. He also predicted Iran’s foreign minister would remain involved in future negotiations.

Trump highlighted blockades as more effective than bombing, stating that once oil wells are shut down, they are sometimes permanently closed. He dismissed suggestions of a rushed resolution, saying “people say I want to get this done quickly because of midterms—that’s not true.” The comments came after Fox News and Axios reported Trump would extend the ceasefire for 3 to 5 days rather than indefinitely.

White House Press Secretary Levitt issued a statement confirming that Trump did not set a final deadline for extending the ceasefire with Iran, stating that reports of giving Iran 3 to 5 days to respond are inaccurate.